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CompTIA A+ computer training comprises of 4 specialised sectors – you’ll need exam certification in two of these areas to be A+ competent. This is why, most training providers limit their course to 2 of the four areas. Our opinion is this will under prepare you – sure, you can pass an exam, but knowledge of every section will give you a distinct advantage in industry, where gaps in your knowledge will expose weaknesses. This is why you require information in all 4 specialities.

Qualifying in CompTIA A+ by itself will give you the ability to repair and fix stand-alone PC’s and MAC’s; ones that are generally not connected to a network – essentially the domestic or small business sector. You might also choose to consider adding Network+ training to your A+ as you can then also look after networks of computers, and become a more senior IT professional.

Picking up on all the debate covering IT these days, how can we know what exactly to look for?

Have a conversation with a proficient consultant and they’ll entertain you with many worrying experiences of students who’ve been sold completely the wrong course for them. Make sure you deal with an industry professional that quizzes you to uncover the best thing for you – not for their retirement-fund! Dig until you find the very best place to start for you. Quite often, the starting point of study for someone with a little experience will be hugely different to someone without. Consider starting with some basic user skills first. It will usually make the learning curve a less steep.

Be on the lookout that any accreditations you’re considering doing will be recognised by employers and are current. ‘In-house’ certificates are not normally useful in gaining employment. The top IT companies such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe each have nationally acknowledged skills programmes. Huge conglomerates such as these will make sure you’re employable.

Proper support should never be taken lightly – ensure you track down something providing 24×7 full access, as anything less will frustrate you and could put a damper on the speed you move through things. Look for training where you can receive help at all hours of the day and night (no matter if it’s in the middle of the night on a weekend!) Make sure it’s always direct-access to qualified mentors and tutors, and not a call-centre that will take messages so you’re parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back during office hours.

If you look properly, you’ll find professional training packages who offer direct-access online support at all times – including evenings, nights and weekends. If you opt for less than online 24×7 support, you’ll regret it very quickly. You may avoid using the support late in the night, but consider weekends, early mornings or even late evenings at some point.

Most trainers typically provide a bunch of books and manuals. This isn’t very interesting and not a very good way of studying effectively. Learning psychology studies show that we remember much more when all our senses are involved, and we get practically involved in what we’re studying.

Locate a program where you’ll get a host of CD and DVD ROM’s – you’ll be learning from instructor videos and demo’s, followed by the chance to hone your abilities through virtual lab’s. You’ll definitely want a demonstration of the study materials from the school that you’re considering. The materials should incorporate expert-led demonstrations, slideshows and lab’s for you to practice your skills in.

Avoid training that is purely online. Physical CD or DVD ROM materials are preferable where obtainable, as you need to be able to use them whenever it’s convenient for you – ISP quality varies, so you don’t want to be totally reliant on your internet connection always being ‘up’ and available.

Exam ‘guarantees’ are sometimes offered as part of a training package – this always means exams have to be paid for upfront, when you pay for the rest of your course. Before you jump at guaranteed exams, be aware of the facts:

Clearly it isn’t free – you’re still being charged for it – the price has simply been included in the whole thing. For those who want to get a first time pass, then you should pay for each exam as you go, prioritise it appropriately and give the task sufficient application.

Find the best exam deal or offer available when you take the exam, and keep hold of your own money. You’ll then be able to select where you sit the exam – meaning you can choose a local testing centre. Considerable numbers of unscrupulous training colleges secure a great deal of profit by getting in the money for all the exam fees up-front and hoping either that you won’t take them, or it will be a long time before you do. Remember, with most ‘Exam Guarantees’ – they control when and how often you are allowed to have another go. You will have to demonstrate an excellent pass-rate before they’ll approve a re-take.

Due to typical VUE and Prometric tests coming in at approximately 112 pounds in Great Britain, it’s common sense to fund them one by one. Not to fork out thousands extra in up-front costs. Commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

A question; why ought we to be looking at commercial qualifications rather than more traditional academic qualifications obtained from schools and Further Education colleges? Industry is of the opinion that to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, proper accreditation from such organisations as Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA often is more effective in the commercial field – for much less time and money. Of course, a reasonable degree of background knowledge needs to be learned, but precise specialised knowledge in the areas needed gives a vendor trained student a huge edge.

The crux of the matter is this: Authorised IT qualifications give employers exactly what they’re looking for – the title says it all: as an example – I am a ‘Microsoft Certified Professional’ in ‘Planning and Maintaining a Windows 2003 Infrastructure’. Therefore companies can identify just what their needs are and what certifications are required to fulfil that.

Locating job security these days is incredibly rare. Companies will remove us out of the workforce with very little notice – as long as it fits their needs. Whereas a marketplace with high growth, where there just aren’t enough staff to go round (because of a massive shortfall of fully trained workers), enables the possibility of lasting job security.

The computer industry skills shortage throughout the UK is standing at roughly 26 percent, as noted by the latest e-Skills study. To explain it in a different way, this clearly demonstrates that the country can only locate 3 certified professionals for every 4 jobs that exist today. Highly taught and commercially grounded new workers are consequently at a resounding premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for many years to come. In actuality, seeking in-depth commercial IT training during the next year or two is very likely the best choice of careers you could make.

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